The route between Aroor and Kottappuram has finally become navigable, thanks to a drive by the Fisheries Department.
About 10 months after it launched a drive to clear National Waterway III, the department has completed clearing stake nets, Chinese nets and wooden poles on the final leg of the waterway. Fishing nets erected at various points and wooden poles that stood underwater posed a serious threat to boats and vessels plying on the stretch.
“We have cleared about 44 km of the stretch in a width of 50 metres between Aroor and Kottappuram, in addition to a couple of branch canals connecting Udyogamandal and Ambalamugal. The licensed nets were removed after giving a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh while the amount for unauthorised nets was fixed at Rs 1.5 lakh’’, said P.V. Parameswaran, Deputy Director, Fisheries Department.
According to the official, the confiscation process was carried out based on a list approved by the State government and after paying compensation to its owners. Clearing of nets on the waterway had been a vexed issue for the authorities as it affected the livelihood of the fisher folk and drew opposition from the local people.
To carry out the process, the department deployed a workforce of 22 labourers in a fleet of six country boats and the process involved operation of water jets and iron ropes.
The works were completed under strict monitoring of the district level committee headed by the District Collector.
Meanwhile, officials said the department had put in place patrolling teams to prevent people from encroaching on the path and reinstalling fishing nets that hamper safe navigation.
